How to Celebrate Pride in Alberta

June is recognized as Pride Month around the world, but communities in Alberta don’t limit celebrations to a single month. Larger festivals and parades take place throughout the summer, and dedicated local organizations ensure Pride continues year-round — creating safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces for everyone in the community.

Keep reading to learn more about how Pride is recognized throughout the province.

Canadian Rockies

Banff Pride Festival (October 3 - 13, 2025)

The town of Banff hosted its first Pride events in 2013, in what began as a grassroots initiative led by Bow Valley Cares. The group gained momentum and support from the community, and Banff’s first Pride Week took place in 2018 with events like a Rainbow Walk and flag raising. Today, the annual Banff Pride Festival is a 10-day celebration of diversity and inclusion held every October. In 2022, Banff was even recognized by Gay Travel as one of the top destinations in the world for 2SLGBTQIA+ visitors.

The Banff Pride Festival blends small-town pride and big-city vibes, where visitors will find live performances from talented local 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians, an engaging speaker series, parties, brunches alongside drag royalty and even a mountaintop drag show at the Banff Gondola — all set against the stunning golden scenery of autumn in Banff National Park.

Banff Pride hosts regular events throughout the year, too, including Pride Markets, an outdoor event series, ski night, drag shows and fashion nights. The town of Banff embraces diversity and creates a welcoming and unforgettable experience for all.

Jasper Pride & Ski Festival (April 2026)

You’re invited to the only 2SLGBTQIA+ ski week in the Canadian Rockies, where it’s all about coming together and celebrating. Jasper Pride began in 2010 with a small, one-day event organized by OUT Jasper. The festival grew year after year, and it’s now one of the largest and most anticipated Pride events in Alberta. For 10 days each spring, locals and visitors alike celebrate together under the slogan “Proud and Free” in the Canadian Rockies’ largest national park.

Jasper has always been a diverse community in myriad ways, welcoming residents and visitors from all walks of life, and Pride is an extension of this. The energy of the festival is unlike anything else, beginning with the opening ceremony and kickoff party. The action-packed festivities include live music, drag performances, family and kids’ events, a ski parade, parties, film screenings and so much more. It’s an extension of the inclusive nature Jasper demonstrates through year-round events and support for the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community and 2SLGBTQIA+ visitors from around the world.

Canmore Pride

The charming mountain town of Canmore may not have a dedicated Pride festival, but the community shows its support year-round in many other ways. The Canmore Pride Society formed in 2021 with locals and visitors in mind, and the members work to create a community where everyone can feel safe, accepted and welcome. The group now creates events for all ages, shares the history of the community and educates allies. Events include drag shows, Make & Mingle days, Queer & Trans Climbs, film screenings and seasonal celebrations. The website also provides resources and opportunities to get involved with the organization.

Banff Pride and the Canmore Pride Society work together as part of the Bow Valley Pride Network. The network is a “group of businesses and organizations committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusivity in Banff, Canmore and the Bow Valley as a whole.” It helps 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and visitors find safe and inclusive spaces to eat, stay and shop in the Canadian Rockies, along with providing resources to businesses.

Northern Alberta

Edmonton Drag Festival (Late May, / Early June)

Launched in 2023, the Edmonton Drag Festival kicks off the city’s Pride Month. The family-friendly festival in Churchill Square celebrates the art of drag and drag culture while fostering a sense of community and belonging for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks and allies alike. Events are free to attend, making it even more accessible for all who would like to join in the fun.

Edmonton Pride Festival (August 23 - 24, 2025)

June may be Pride Month in Alberta’s capital city, with a busy roster ranging from vibrant events and community celebrations to club nights and social mixers. But you’ll want to mark your calendars for the big Pride festival in August. Pride’s roots run deeply in Edmonton and go back to the 1980s — the inaugural event was a small park picnic. The first Gay Pride Weekend followed in 1982, and the first official Pride march took place in 1991. These days, the Edmonton Pride Festival is a popular event on the city’s packed summer calendar — Edmonton is Festival City, after all. It all gets started with a parade, followed by events like live performances and brunch singalongs.

Grande Prairie Pride

The Grande Prairie Pride Society celebrates diversity and promotes equity in Alberta’s northern region. The volunteer-run organization formed in 2015 and hosts year-round events, including the annual rainbow crosswalk painting and Family Carnival in June. The event welcomes all and is free to attend, making it even more accessible. Music, games and carnival rides abound, and it’s a popular community celebration. The Grande Prairie Pride Society also hosts a Rainbow Bright Teen Dance that provides an inclusive space for teens to connect. On top of hosting events, the society acts as a comprehensive resource hub, connecting folks with allies, local support services and educational materials.

Southern Alberta

Calgary Pride | August 30 - 31, 2025

The Calgary Pride Parade and Festival is an annual favourite on the city’s summer event calendar. The 2025 theme, Bursting in Bloom, celebrates “a season of blossoming love, growth and pride”. Calgary Pride's focus for the year is on supporting the community garden of 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations in the city and surrounding areas — artists, healthcare workers, business owners and lawmakers, to name a few — and fostering ways for everyone to grow and flourish. The festival kicks off with a more adult-focused evening of programming before the parade and family-friendly day at Prince’s Island Park rooted in acceptance and love. Alongside performances, festivalgoers can browse an artisan marketplace and connect with community wellness organizations.

Calgary Pride has been deeply connected to the city since its genesis as Project Pride Calgary in 1987. The first festival was a small celebration in 1989 before the parade marched through the city in 1990. The parade and festival grew over the following decades, and in the 2010s Calgary Pride became an incorporated non-profit. The parade expanded in visibility and attendance, so the organization took significant steps to improve accessibility to ensure parade routes and events could be attended by all. The decade also saw the permanent addition of rainbow and trans flag crosswalks on Stephen Avenue — a symbol of Calgary’s lasting commitment to visibility and inclusion.

Lethbridge Pride Fest

It all started with a barbecue and dance. In 2007, a small group gathered to host the events on the outskirts of the city — and 20 minutes outside city limits, in the case of the dance. The group was dedicated to creating a Lethbridge Pride Fest that would provide events, spaces and community with as few barriers as possible. Today, the Lethbridge Pride Fest Society hosts and supports events that encourage connection and celebration — be it stand-up comedy, fashion workshops, outdoor events, kids’ programming, games nights, live music and anything in-between.

The annual Lethbridge Pride Fest is held every June, starting off with the morning Pride parade and wrapping up with the lively Pride Dance.

Medicine Hat Pride

The Prairie Pride Guild of Medicine Hat & District may have officially launched in 2024, but it is a continuation of work that began by two dedicated individuals in the 1990s under the name Prairie Pride. The organization focuses on positive engagement with the community, partnering with other agencies to support and grow the Pride movement in Medicine Hat. The annual Pride is for Everyone event includes an “Ask Us Anything” panel that opens the door for conversations, learning and understanding in a respectful space.